August 29 - September 6, 1962

August 29 - Wednesday


What a miserable day. Tita Lol and Mommy got the letters from Sister Andrea telling them about Mercy and I being absent 3 times from Typing class and the way my mother reacted you’d think I had gone and eloped. As if she never played hooky in her life. She thinks we skipped classes to go to the ANC but we didn’t. We just stayed here at home or at Mercy’s house. Anyway, she probably won’t let me go to Yan’s party on Saturday because Tita Lol won’t let Mercy go. Not letting me go to the ANC is bad enough but at least on weekends let me breath! (What a spoiled brat I was!)



August 30 - Thursday

Nothing worth writing about happened today. I talked with Mercy hours over the phone and also with Linda H. I listened to records all afternoon. Had dinner by myself and am now in bed at quarter to 10. Mercy does nothing but talk about Tony and all I can think of is Carlos...we are hopeless...



August 31 - Friday

Same old routine in school. At least , Monday, Wednesday and Friday are better than Tuesday and Thursday and Saturday with that awful Mr. Lane. Mr. Cruz (not so bad but ugh, Steno) and the subject I really honestly can’t stand - Accounting!



September 1 - Saturday

What a nice day. This evening we had the party for Yan at their lovely new home in Urdaneta Village. Mercy and I got the surprise of our lives when Tony and Freddie arrived. It was a very nice evening mainly because of George, Mari, Mitch and Tony. Tony and Freddie sat with Mercy and I the whole evening. Freddie kept teasing us but you simply cannot get mad at him because they are so charming. Mari was clowning around as usual and he and George just sent us into hysterics. Tony seems to be getting more interested in Mercy but Betina is still in the picture. I danced 3 boogies and one slow with him. I danced 4 times with Mari and several times with Mitch, Butch, Yan, Rafa, Pichuco and Javi. Mari interrupted my dance with George again and it seems I’ll never get to finish a dance with him. George brought Mercy, Honey and I home. I kept wishing that Carlos had been there.



September 2 - Sunday

Mom, Mercy and I went to Mass at San Pancracio at 11. Then we changed into pants and went to the ANC. The usual people were there. We ate lunch there and then Jan, Mercy and I went to the Rizal to see “Experiment in Terror” with Glen Ford and Lee Remick. Luz and Luli went with Rafa and Nacho. When Mercy and I came out to go to the Ladies Room, I saw Carlos by the doors and I melted all the way again. Later he drove up in his car to pick up Tita Marina. I told Eddie and Freddie to go to Arlette’s house. Mercy and I, George, Honey, Mitch, Arno, Lita, Luli and Jan arrived half an hour later and 15 minutes after that, Juaco, Carlos, Eddie, Freddie, and Lita Paraiso walk through the door. I can’t deny I like Carlos to distraction but neither can I deny that he doesn’t give a hoot about me. (I was such a masochist but weren’t or aren’t all teenage girls?!) Anyway, Carlos gave me one of his I-know-you’re-nuts-about-me looks and I just felt like leaving the room. Arno was acting a bit strange and Eddie and I talked about Monica and threw pillows at each other.



September 3 - Monday

Oh what a day. There’s a blooming typhoon coming and that’s all we need for Mercy’s party on Saturday. And Sister Andrea has the hardest head! We were late for Spanish class because Father Trent and Mother Socorro were talking to Mercy, Betsy and I but she and Miss Zacarias wouldn’t hear our excuse. This evening Eddie called up and we talked a long time about Monica. He wants to see her tomorrow and its all so mixed up. I so enjoy talking to him. Luli called up asking me about the Teucher’s broken phone too and Mercy called up as well. I’ve been memorizing “The Unknown Soldier Speaks” for Dramatics class tomorrow and I’ve gotten it down pretty well. I am also brushing up on my Steno because I’m a little apprehensive about the test tomorrow. Oh, I hope Tony and Mercy hook up - what a perfect couple! I want to talk to Daddy about school but with these Asian Games going on, I hardly see him. Mom, as usual, was harping at me again today. I wonder what I’m going to wear for Mercy’s party. It’s four days from now and I have nothing to wear - really. And, its raining buckets!



September 4 - Tuesday

I had lunch at Mercy’s house. Mr. Lane gave us our exam in Dramatics and was I glad I memorized the “The Unknown Soldier...” Mr. Cruz was in the best of spirits this morning. I can’t stand Sister Felix and her darned Accounting class. I wonder what I’ll put down on my paper for Theology tomorrow and there’s that awful P.E. Monica, Mercy and Arlette called me tonight. Monica was all excited because she had a charming little chat with Carlos this afternoon leaving Eddie (poor guy) pretty much baffled. Arlette complained about not knowing who to like or fall for??? And Mercy is all wrapped up with Tony. I spoke to Mitch this afternoon at the ANC. The maid said Eddie called up home at around 6. A typhoon signal is up but no air-condition since the unit is broken in Mom’s room and it is so hot!!



September 5 - Wednesday

Exam in Theology a sweat and exam in Spanish a whizz through. Mercy and I almost got stranded in school because of the rain this noon. We had lunch at Mercy’s house. Since the streets were flooded we had to stay there. I carried and played with Marilu (Pocholo’s baby) who is the most sociable little baby. Honey looked specially handsome this afternoon and he was in a lovely mood, too. Later, while we were in Honey’s room typing, Mitch and George came to pick him up. Those guys are super and so much fun to be with. They went out in Mitch’s car and later Honey and George came back. George kept teasing and fooling around. I started to type Mitch’s name on the typewriter and Carlos’s too. Then Mitch and George came back and I hurriedly tried to close the typewriter but Mercy made matters worse by asking me why I was in such a hurry and Mitch walked right behind me and after prodding by Emil saw that I had typed his name and Mercy said his face changed. (Another moment in time that I remember distinctly - this typewriter episode with Mitch at Mercy’s house.) George later started teasing Mercy and I. Later on, Mercy, Honey and I had a chat. As I’ve said a million times before, Honey’s the guy I respect the most. I like everything about him and the girl that he marries will get a gold mine! (Ah, Lynnie, who knew, huh?) If Mercy should move away from here I’d lose the best friend I have. I really love that girl. (Ah, Mercy, who knew I’d be the one moving away - from San Marcelino to Indiana Street and then later away from Manila altogether. I still love this girl.) She’s a headache at times but still my very best friend.



September 6 - Thursday

I had lunch at Mercy’s again. I love eating there. I like Tito Ramon, Tita Lol, Tito Eugenio, Pocholo, Carmen (no comment), Honey, Mercy and Emil. (I guess I crossed out poor Chicky and Albert in my mind then.) Mercy’s party is going to be in the Club Filipino. Mom made me go home at 2 pm. I went to Arlette and Monica’s house and Eddie, Juaco, Freddie, Butch and Mari were there. We sat and talked. Mari and Butch gave a hilarious imitation of a girl and boy at a movie. They later left and the rest of us played “One, Two, Three - Pass” Juaco likes Arlette next to Barbara. Eddie likes Monica and vice-versa. And Freddie is still hopelessly in love with Arlette. Eddie is such a nice guy - serious yet so funny at the same time. Monica confuses him a lot. Anyway, my mother got all riled up because we were at the house with the boys and what will people think - here perennial cry. But at least Arlette and Monica can talk to Tita Marianne about boys, and Mercy to Tita Lol and Margie to Tita Pacita. But me? Forget it!